Minnielle ran to the window and stared up at Angelique.
“You don't have your rope! What if you fall!” Minielle called from the window. “Don't worry, this is easy. I just don't look down!” Angelique shouted back, climbing the bricks even higher. Minnielle bit her lip and climbed back inside the room, fidgeting restlessly. Angelique finally made it to Julian's window, and gently pushed it open. Her leg went through first, to feel if it was safe. A hand, cold as ice, grabbed her thin ankle and yanked her inside. Once again she tumbled into the room. “Ouch!” she exclaimed. Beside the window, Julian stood, glaring down.
Julian’s glowing blue eyes no longer scared her from the darkness. He was just a violent, big, baby. She stood up and stuck out her tongue at him. “You’re brutal. That’s the 4th way you've tried to kill me so far. You’re the worst.” she walked over to his couch and flopped down. Julian didn't speak, just stood and stared. “Very well, you little toddler. I’m here to ask you to take away your maid. I only like Minnielle, she’s sweet and adorable, like a baby chipmunk. You understand right?” Angelique said casually, in an attempt to make small talk. Julian walked over to her, grabbed her ankles once again, and dragged to the window while she continued to speak.
“Are you going to throw me out the window?! How mature, Alishe Julian. You are aware there will be repercussions to what you’re doing.” she said calmly. She knew she was poking the bear, but she was tired of him. “My answer is no,” he said, pulling her through the window and dangling her upside down by her ankles.
“What are you even doing!” she shouted at him against the wind. “Teaching you a lesson,” he replied. “A lesson about what? What are you even teaching me!?” She shouted. Minnielle poked her head out of the window from below and shrieked. “Angelique what's happening!?” Angelique sighed and yelled at Julian. “Look at what you’ve done, you've scared Minnielle.” “Your chipmunk? Tell her to go to bed, I’ll let go of you soon,” he said, taking a seat on the window sill. Angelique told Minielle what Julian had said, and could see the tears fall down Minniell’s face and into the grass far below. ‘Is she really so hungry that she’d cry for my safety?’ Angelique thought. Turning back to Julian she tried to grab his arm with her hands and release her ankles. She managed to cling to his arm so they were face to face. “Will you at least remove the new maid?” she smiled warily. “Not a chance,” he said.
“Why do you hate me so much anyway? All I did was marry you, everything can be undone.” Angelique said, staring at his face. He was handsome but super moody. “You really are a fool. You can't just divorce a wedding gifted to you by the emperor.” He shook her a bit to see if her arms would slip, but she dug her nails into his arm.
“No, you’re the fool. You just don't think outside the box. What we need is mass support from the people. I suggest we attend social events and display our marital discourse.” she said smartly, with a nod. Julian glared at her and released her ankles. She almost slipped but held onto his arm enough to get her footing, and then she climbed down.
Julian watched as her hair whipped around her face, and thought of what she said. It made him think about the event in two days. He wasn't planning to go but, maybe he should.
…
…
A day had passed since their last encounter on the wall of the estate, and Angelique was woken up by Minnielle opening her window and the bright sun beaming in on her. Minnielle rushed over to Angelique, taking a bowl of water from the desk and using it to wash Angelique’s face.
Evandoss, with her neatly ironed maid uniform, marched into the room soon after, holding a piece of paper. “Alishen, the Alishe will be attending the evening event at Alishe Hinton’s estate tonight. He requests that you be ready for departure at 3 exactly.”
Angelique tapped her chin, thinking. ‘He must have realized I had a point, we need to create the impression of an unsteady married life.’ She searched her memory for information about Alishe Hinton, the party's host. He’s Julian's brother and has a wife, Roberta, and two children. “Evandoss, are gifts required?” Angelique asked, thinking of the age of the children.
Evandoss nodded, before handing Angelique the paper. “Here is your daily agenda, Alishen,” she said, still stone-faced. Angelique hid her annoyance. She didn't mind the agenda, but she didn't necessarily enjoy it. It reminded her how she spent her entire life based on a strict schedule of studies and classes, and social events. She threw the paper away. “Minnielle, should we go shopping in an hour?” Angelique said with a smile, glancing at Evandoss to see if she was out of earshot. She lightly whispered, “I’ll give you breakfast on the carriage.” Minnielle beamed, and responded, “How about we leave as soon as you're dressed!”
The two ladies boarded the carriage and shut the doors and windows. “I’m hungry! What's there to eat!?” Minnielle said as Angelique straightened her dress. They had gotten to the carriage much easier than last time since the Alishen had become more lenient with Evandoss as his spy. The two of them ate baked pastries, while Evandoss sat outside with the coachman. “Our first stop will be at the bank, then a toy shop, and then we can get an evening gown,” Angelique said, finishing her meal. The carriage bumped along down the path until they reached the shopping area.
After the bank, Angelique had money on hand for shopping. She thought about the amount of money belonging to her in the bank. “Minnielle, why does Angelique have so much money anyway? She doesn't own a business, and her family has a separate account.” Minnielle nodded, turning to her. “The old Angelique sued many women into obscurity, they now live as peasants, since she took away all their families money through cruel tactics,” she said, looking dimly at Angelique's surprised expression. “Minnielle, do you know where they all live?” Angelique asked, sitting on the edge of her seat.
Minnielle shook her head, but then said, “Although I don't know where they are now, I can soon find out for you.” “Great, Minnielle please find all of them and give me their location. I need to return what belongs to them.” Angelique said, twisting her skirt nervously. ‘Will the money be enough to restore their family title? What can I even do to help!?’
Angelique’s mind was drawn away by the carriage stopping at the toy shop. Now, she had a new problem, her brother-in-law’s children. As Angelique walked in with Minnielle and Evandoss, she watched the colorful toys decorating the walls, and the stuffed creatures piled in the corner. She stood to the side, thinking of any encounter the old Angelique had with the children. She recalled her wedding when she had to stand and listen to their family talk. The children, Tinser and Roxanne, were both 5 years old. They seemed quiet and reserved and were both polite and well educated. Angelique thought they seemed a lot like her when she was 5. She looked back at the toys. ‘I loved puzzle games when I was 5, and I was also quiet and shy. I’ll get them both puzzle games.’ She said, grinning. She began to dash around the store, searching for puzzle games. Dolls, toy guns, toy swords. No puzzles. Angelique leaned against a wall, out of breath, and defeated.
‘Why are there no puzzle games! No Rubix cube, or puzzle box?’ Angelique walked out of the store onto the street and looked around. ‘Barbershop, jewelry store. What exactly would sell puzzles?’ Angelique’s eye was caught by a woodworking shop. ‘I bet they have something close to a puzzle.’ She walked over to the shop and opened the door. The smell of the wood was strong.
“Hello there, miss, how can I help you.” The attendant at the counter asked politely, wiping the wooden counter. “Do you have a puzzle game? Like a sliding puzzle box?” Angelique asked, struggling to describe the item as her maids stared at her with confusion. The attendant took a moment to think, and then said, “Like a safe-box?” Angelique nodded with a smile. “Yes, similar to that do you have one?”
The attendant left for a moment and returned with a small wooden box, with a top covered in tiles of wood. The attendant placed it in front of her and invited her to try it out. Angelique quickly recognized it as a sliding puzzle box, like the one she had as a young girl. Inside, she would hide a piece of candy and then solve the puzzle. She swiftly solved the puzzle, in barely a minute, revealing the copper keyhole. “This is perfect! Do you have anything similar to this?” she asked excitedly.
The attendant ended up bringing two more puzzles, each different. One had a different shape and color tile pizzle, the other had gears that turned and moved. She bought all three, and solved each one, opening each safe and putting in backs of different candy.
As they left, Minnielle ran up beside Angelique. “We need to go back to the bank, you spent all your money on these toys,” she said, nervously. Angelique let out a sigh and stepped inside the carriage. “I’m fine, I don't need a new dress, we have plenty of dresses at home.” Minnielle nervously looked at Angelique, regretting her past actions. She had once, with the other maids, washed all of Angelique's dresses with stones and muddy water so that it all became torn and rough, and was clearly odd colored. The old Angelique was too foolish to really realize, but aristocrats would clearly see her as lower than them. Minnielle bit her nail awkwardly, as Angelique was about to close the door. Suddenly, a foot stopped the door from closing.
Angelique looked up with surprise to see a thin, poorly dressed woman with a dusty face. “Stop right there!” the woman commanded angrily. Angelique blinked at her dumbly, trying to figure out who the woman was. “You ruined my life, and my family! You drove my father to a deadly sickness! I will kill you!” the woman shrieked, leaping into the carriage and scratching at Angelique’s neck. It then dawned on Angelique who the woman was. ‘Rebecca Constante, one of the women who Angelique ruined. I don't blame her for being mad...but she’s trying to kill me.’ Angelique thought calmly as Minnielle fought to pry the woman off Angelique, who’s neck now was bleeding from a scratch.
“Minnielle, hold her in the seat,” Angelique said calmly, wiping the blood with a handkerchief. “Coachman, go to the bank please.” She called. The carriage lurched into motion, as Angelique watched Minnielle struggle to pin the woman down. “We’re good now, she won't leave, the doors are locked. Minnielle let her go.” Angelique said, staring at the woman.
“What do you need, Lady Rebecca.” Angelique stared into her eyes, with genuine concern. Rebecca was at first surprised. It had been many months since anyone called her a Lady, which was her original title. “I want revenge.” Rebecca hissed. Angelique nodded, and said, “Understandable, but revenge won't save your father, what do I owe you. Name it, money, title, whatever you need.” Rebecca blinked at Angelique. “What do you mean?”
Angelique looked out the window at the bank drawing closer. “We’re here, tell me how much money your family originally had, I will return it to you and help you regain your title, and save your father. Angelique said. Rebecca looked over to Minielle, who was glaring at the woman. “Answer her!” Minnielle spat. Angelique stared at Minielle. ‘Geez, could you calm down for a second, I’m trying to make a good impression.’ Angelique let out a sigh. “I need an answer, how much?” When Rebecca told her the amount, Minnielle gasped and clenched her fist. “What a big fake! You lie!” she snarled. Angelique stood and left the carriage silently. She returned a few minutes later with a large set of bags, all filled with gold coins. “Here, now, where is your father,” she asked, crossing her legs.
Rebecca sputtered, staring at the large bags of money. Tears seemed to form in her eyes, but she stiffened her face, and she answered. The carriage first picked up a private doctor. It teetered down the rocky roads of the poorest area of the town. They all got out and entered a small, broken house. Its porch was sunken, and its roof was broken in parts. They stepped inside, to a dusty room shrouded in darkness. In the corner, a man coughed loudly.
“Father, it's me, Rebecca. I have a doctor with me.” Rebecca said, running over and holding her father’s hand. The doctor checked the elderly man and stood, tucking away his medical tools and walking up to Angelique. “It's easily curable with the right medication, I shall have the medicine ready in a day, will that be alright?” the doctor asked. Angelique nodded and then grabbed the doctor's arm. “Deliver the medicine to the old Constante estate, that's where they'll be,” Angelique said, letting him go and walking up to Rebecca. “Lady Rebecca, have all your possessions packed, tomorrow morning I will take you away from this home. She looked at the old man. His skin was grey and creased, and his breath was unsteady. “Rest assured, I’ll have everything taken care of,” Angelique said, smiling warmly.
“I shall leave now, I will return at 6 in the morning tomorrow, be ready to go.” Angelique turned and stepped into her carriage. “Minnielle, do you know what time it is now?” she asked. Minnielle checked with the coachman, who carried a small pocket watch. Her face paled. “My Lady, it's 2, we have an hour to get home and get ready for the social event,” Minnielle said, twiddling her fingers. Angelique sighed. “Let's go then, we have an event to get to.”
The carriage ride was 40 minutes of Minnielle stress eating anything Angelique made, as they tucked all their plates underneath the seat cushions of the carriage. Minnielle couldn't help but look at Angelique’s rough dress, which had originally been a bright red, but after its wash, had become a disgusting muddy brown. It looked like she had stained the dress with dirt.
When they arrived, a royal carriage was already at the front of the house, and Julian was there, his face darkened. Angelique stepped out of the carriage and stepped beside him. His hair was slicked back, and his clothing was lavish and covered in gold patterns, with a fur-trimmed cloak.
“Hello there, Alishe Julian.” She stared coldly at him. “I suggest we take different carriages to the party, so we’ll follow behind you.“ Angelique said, turning away without his response. Julian had his fists clenched. “That stupid woman, she looks like she just ran through a field,” he whispered, stepping onto his lavish carriage.
Angelique let out a sigh of relief as she stepped on her own carriage, glancing at Minnielle, who was shivering, with her eyes bulging. “Don't be nervous Minnielle, you can stay by my side for this event, I need your help. No need to be nervous.” Angelique said, giving her a warm small and squeezing Minnielle’s small hands.
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